ETF Evaluator:
VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF ()
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(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Emerging Markets Bond Over the Last Year
| 12.8% | Virtus Stone Harbor Emr Mkt Hi Yld BdETF (VEMY) |
| 11.5% | VanEck Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMBX) |
| 11.3% | Neuberger Em Mkts Debt Hard Ccy ETF (NEMD) |
| 9.5% | iShares J.P. Morgan EM High Yld Bd ETF (EMHY) |
| 9.4% | Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF (GAEM) |
Risk
Index
Risk
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ETF Details
VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF Overview
VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF (HYEM) is a passively managed Taxable Bond Emerging Markets Bond exchange-traded fund (ETF). VanEck launched the ETF in 2012.
The investment seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the ICE BofAML Diversified High Yield US Emerging Markets Corporate Plus Index.
The fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the fund's benchmark index. The index is comprised of U.S. dollar denominated bonds issued by non-sovereign emerging market issuers that have a below investment grade rating and that are issued in the major domestic and Eurobond markets.
About VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF (HYEM)
There are 1 members of the management team with an average tenure of 13.84 years: Francis Rodilosso (2012). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: ICE BofA Global Broad Market Plus TR USD index with a weighting of 100% and ICE BofA Div HY US EMs Corp + TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF has 560 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 6.7% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF is part of the Fixed Income global asset class and is within the Taxable Bond ETF group. VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF has 97.8% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 0.0% There is 0.0% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 98.6% (0.8% domestic bond, 97.8% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF has 1.4% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $521 million in total assets, which is below the $1 billion average for the Emerging Markets Bond category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
HYEM Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Emerging Markets Bond category. VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF has an expense ratio of 0.40%, which is 13% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a B. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 39%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 56% for the Emerging Markets Bond category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF returned -0.0%, which earned it a grade of A, as the Emerging Markets Bond category had an average return of -1.1%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF has a trailing yield of 6.76%, which is above the 6.13% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income monthly and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
VanEck EM High Yield Bond ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 3.9%, 1.9 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A. The fund has returned 7.5% over the past year (grade of C), 10.0% over the past three years (grade of A) and 3.2% per year over the past five years (grade of A) and 4.3% per year over the past 10 years (grade of B).
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HYEM Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| HYEM Return (NAV) | -0.0% | 1.1% | 7.5% | 10.0% | 3.2% | 4.3% |
| HYEM Return (Price) | 0.4% | 1.4% | 7.7% | 10.1% | 3.2% | 4.3% |
| NAV +/- Price Return | -0.399% | -0.249% | -0.255% | -0.124% | 0.055% | -0.027% |
| Emerging Markets Bond Avg | -1.1% | 0.6% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 2.3% | 3.6% |
| HYEM Grade (NAV) | A | B | C | A | A | B |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 1.1% | 0.6% | -0.5% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 0.7% |
| HYEM Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 2.7% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.5% |
HYEM Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| HYEM Return (NAV) | 3.9% | 9.2% | 12.4% | 8.1% | -12.7% | -1.4% | 6.8% | 12.3% | -3.5% | 8.0% | 15.1% |
| HYEM Return (Price) | 4.2% | 9.2% | 12.1% | 8.3% | -13.4% | -1.3% | 6.9% | 12.8% | -3.4% | 7.9% | 15.9% |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | 0.093% | 0.005% | -0.024% | 0.027% | 0.058% | -0.080% | 0.017% | 4.5% | -3.9% | -0.6% | 4.9% |
| Emerging Markets Bond Avg | 2.0% | 13.0% | 6.8% | 10.3% | -14.2% | -3.3% | 5.9% | 13.9% | -4.6% | 9.8% | 10.7% |
| HYEM Grade (NAV) | A | F | A | F | B | B | B | F | B | F | A |
| +/- Category | 1.9% | -3.9% | 5.6% | -2.2% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 0.9% | -1.6% | 1.1% | -1.8% | 4.5% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 0.51 |
| R-Squared: | 53% |
| Standard Deviation: | 4.0% |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.65 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Low |
| Total Risk Index: | 0.32 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Low |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 6.8% |
| Total Assets: | $ 521 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 521 Mil |
| Turnover: | 39.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.40% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | ICE BofA Global Broad Market Plus TR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Monthly |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 1 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 13.8 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 13.8 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Rodilosso Francis (2012) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 560 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 6.7% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 97.8% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Stock: | 0.0% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.8% |
| Foreign Bond: | 97.8% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 1.4% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | VanEck |
| Phone Number: | 800-826-2333 |
| Website: | www.marketvectorsetfs.com |
| Inception Date: | May 8, 2012 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.40% (Rating: Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.46% |
